The Airport Commuter Standard

Our 40-year quality promise — driver vetting, vehicle standards, licensing, insurance, and operating practices that have kept our regulars riding with us since 1986.

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40
Years
9225
CPUC TCP #
$5M
Liability Coverage
30+
Year Drivers

Six Pillars of the Standard

Every Airport Commuter ride — from a 5 AM SFO pickup to a London executive transfer through our affiliate network — meets these six standards. The same standards we operated under in 1986, evolved with the industry.

1. Licensing & Compliance

CPUC TCP# 9225 — a 3-digit California Public Utilities Commission Transportation Charter Permit issued in 1986. Permits issued today are 5-6 digits; a 3-digit number identifies one of the oldest continuously-operating limousine companies in California. Annual CPUC re-inspection. DOT-compliant for SOX/SEC-regulated executive travel. $5,000,000 commercial liability policy, fully insured for every passenger and trip.

2. W-2 Driver Employees

In the San Francisco Bay Area, every Airport Commuter driver is a direct W-2 employee — not a 1099 contractor, not a gig worker, not an algorithmic match. We pay benefits, payroll taxes, and the highest wages in the industry. Result: two drivers who started with us in 1992 are still with us today, plus several from 2011. Lowest driver turnover rate in our market.

3. Driver Vetting & Background Checks

Every driver passes multi-source background screening before their first dispatch: criminal background, driving record (CHP/DMV), drug screening, employment verification. DOT random drug testing program with year-round monitoring. Annual driver re-certification, including SFO/OAK/SJC airport authority badges where required. Our affiliate partners worldwide are bound to equivalent standards.

4. Vehicle Standards

Daily exterior wash, weekly detailed interior cleaning, every 5,000 miles full mechanical service. Every vehicle CPUC-permitted, DOT-compliant, fully insured. Newest model years rotated continuously. From Lincoln Town Car (we put the first one on the road at SFO in 1986) to Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes Maybach, Tesla Model Y, and stretch limos — every car meets the same standard before it picks you up.

5. Real-Time Operations

FAA flight tracking on every booked flight — we adjust automatically for early arrivals, delays, cancellations, and reroutes at no extra charge. 30 minutes of free wait time from gate arrival, included on every airport pickup. 24/7 human dispatch at +1-650-876-1777 — not bots, not algorithms. No surge pricing, ever. Same flat rates at 4 AM as at 4 PM. How our flight-tracking system works » · What's included in our rate »

6. Worldwide Affiliate Standards

Outside the SF Bay Area, we work through a vetted worldwide affiliate network built over 25+ years. Each partner is an established local limousine company with their own employee drivers, full local licensing, and at least 10 years of operating history. We re-validate partners annually. Single-bill billing through Airport Commuter, single 24/7 dispatch contact. Same standard, anywhere in 200+ cities.

Industry Firsts & Track Record

In 1986, founder Charles Princeton put the first Lincoln Town Car on the road at SFO — we believe the first in the Bay Area. Before that, every Bay Area limo company ran long stretch sedans. We helped redefine "airport car service" in the SF market.

When Lincoln released something new, we were first

When the Lincoln Livery Edition Town Car came out, we were the first in Northern California to put a fleet of eight on the road. When Lincoln launched the Livery MKT in 2012, we did it again — twelve cars, first in Northern California. We've consistently been first to invest in new executive ground-transportation platforms in our market.

SFO booth program (1994–2000s)

In 1994 we put together a joint venture with San Francisco International and ran limo reservation booths inside SFO baggage claim — right next to the airport's own information counters. You couldn't get that kind of direct-to-traveler presence at SFO today no matter what you paid for it.

Affiliate network since the early 2000s

In the early 2000s we launched our vetted worldwide affiliate network — the same network we use today, just broader. 200+ cities: 22 US metros, 30 international destinations, plus 140 SF Bay Area cities served directly from our South San Francisco fleet. One phone call, one email, one reservation.

Peak: 78 cars, 18 office staff

At our peak we ran more than 78 cars and 18 office staff. After COVID and the rise of rideshare, we deliberately scaled to a leaner, more focused operation — same standards, smaller fleet, founder back in the office most days. Our regulars get the same drivers, every trip. See our full 40-year timeline » or read the founder's full story »

Trusted by Executives at

Coca-Cola  ·  Delta Air Lines  ·  UPS  ·  Southern Company  ·  Invesco  ·  Mercer

Long-term corporate Black SUV accounts since the early 2000s

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Airport Commuter Standard?

Our 40-year-old quality program covering driver vetting, vehicle standards, compensation, insurance, and operating practices. Every Airport Commuter ride meets these standards — from a SFO airport pickup to a London executive transfer through our affiliate network.

Are your drivers W-2 employees or contractors?

In the SF Bay Area, all our drivers are direct W-2 employees of Airport Commuter — not gig contractors. We pay benefits, payroll taxes, and the highest wages in the industry. Outside the Bay Area, our affiliate partners are vetted, established limousine companies with their own employee drivers.

What licensing do you carry?

CPUC TCP# 9225 — a 3-digit California Public Utilities Commission Transportation Charter Permit issued in 1986. CPUC TCPs issued today are 5-6 digits; a 3-digit number indicates one of the oldest continuously-operating limo companies in California. Plus DOT-compliant operations and full $5M commercial liability insurance.

Who runs background checks on your drivers?

Every Airport Commuter driver passes a multi-source background check (criminal, driving record, drug screening) before their first dispatch. CHP-monitored DOT random drug testing program. Annual driver re-certification. CPUC requires annual TCP renewal which includes verification of driver records.

How do you handle Bay Area traffic and SFO peak times?

Our dispatchers know every SF Bay Area route, every airport's TNC/limo pickup zone protocol, and every pattern of the day. We use real-time FAA flight tracking, traffic data, and 40 years of accumulated route intelligence to time pickups and adjust automatically for delays.

What if my driver has an issue — running late, vehicle problem?

24/7 dispatch contact at +1-650-876-1777 — actual humans, not bots, no surge pricing, no algorithmic dispatch. If our dispatcher detects a problem (delay, vehicle fault) they re-dispatch you to another vehicle automatically and notify you. Cancellation/no-show policies favor the customer.

Experience The Standard

Whether you need an SFO airport transfer, a wedding day fleet in Napa, an executive sedan in Manhattan, or a London chauffeur for your overseas client — one phone call applies the full Airport Commuter Standard to your booking.

Get a Quote » Book a Ride » +1-650-876-1777

Airport Commuter • Since 1986 • CPUC TCP# 9225 • Fully Insured • AboutOur Network+1-650-876-1777